CN110916548A

CN110916548A - Household appliance comprising a dryer

Info

Publication number: CN110916548A
Application number: CN201910884778.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 刘炫善; 全宰兴; 殷裕叔; 金主谦; 金圣卿; 金茗宣
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2018-09-19
Filing date: 2019-09-19
Publication date: 2020-03-27
Also published as: US11666188B2; US20200085259A1

Abstract

A household appliance includes a dryer. There is provided a home appliance, including: a dryer for discharging air for drying and formed with a handle at one side to be held by a user; and a support having a socket in which the handle is mounted. Accordingly, the user can dry the object to be dried without holding the dryer. The dryer and the cradle each include a positioning unit provided at each of the handle and the socket and for enabling the handle to be positioned at a predetermined position on the socket, i.e., a correct position, when the handle is mounted in the socket. The magnetic force acts between the dryer and the positioning units of each of the stands, the positioning units contact each other and are coupled to each other, or the positioning units contact each other and are coupled to each other while the magnetic force acts between the positioning units, so that the handle can be positioned at a correct position. That is, the mounting position of the handle is guided to the correct position by the positioning unit, and the handle is prevented from being separated from the correct position.

Description

Household appliance comprising a dryer

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a home appliance including a dryer for discharging dry air and a supporter mounted with the dryer. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a home appliance including a dryer capable of positioning the dryer at a predetermined position on a stand when the dryer is mounted in the stand and preventing the dryer from being separated from the stand unlike a user's intention.

Background

When the dryer is used to dry a human body, a user generally holds the dryer and performs drying while moving the dryer toward an object to be dried.

In order to solve the inconvenience that a user should perform drying while holding the dryer, a holder capable of mounting the dryer has been conventionally proposed.

However, in the conventional stand, when a user wants to change a portion of an object to be dried, there is a problem in that: the user should directly adjust the direction of the cradle or move the human body such that the air discharge direction of the dryer installed in the cradle faces the portion of the object to be dried.

In particular, in the conventional pedestal, when the object to be dried frequently changes position, for example, when the object to be dried is an infant or a pet, it is difficult to change the air discharge direction of the dryer from time to time.

To solve such a problem, US 2010/0307019 a1 discloses a structure that inclines a dryer mounted in a cradle, but since the dryer is integrally provided in the cradle, it is difficult for a user to directly carry and hold the dryer and perform drying using the dryer.

Unlike the above-mentioned US 2010/0307019 a1, KR 20150031643 a and KR 20180043526A disclose a stand to which a dryer is detachably mounted and whose height and angle are adjustable. However, there have not been proposed arrangements for positioning the dryer at a predetermined position on the stand and structures for preventing the dryer from being separated from the stand while adjusting the height and/or angle of the stand.

Further, KR 101383330B 1 discloses a structure for adjusting not only the height of the pedestal on which the dryer is mounted, but also the rotation and angle of the pedestal, but no arrangement has been proposed to prevent the dryer from being separated from the pedestal when the posture of the pedestal is changed.

Disclosure of Invention

A first problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to provide a home appliance including a dryer, which is capable of drying an object to be dried without a user holding the dryer.

A second problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to provide a home appliance including a dryer, wherein the dryer is positioned at a predetermined position on a stand when the dryer is mounted in the stand.

A third problem to be solved by the present disclosure is to provide a home appliance including a dryer, which can prevent the dryer mounted in a stand from being unintentionally separated from the stand.

The object of the present disclosure is not limited to the above object, and other objects will be understood from the following description by those skilled in the art.

In one aspect, a home appliance includes: a dryer for discharging air for drying and formed with a handle at one side to be held by a user; and a support having a socket in which the handle is mounted. Accordingly, the user can dry the object to be dried without holding the dryer.

The dryer and the cradle each include a positioning unit provided at each of the handle and the socket and for enabling the handle to be positioned at a predetermined position (hereinafter, a correct position) on the socket when the handle is mounted in the socket.

According to an embodiment, a magnetic force acts between the positioning units of each of the dryer and the stand, the positioning units contact each other and are coupled to each other, or the positioning units contact each other and are coupled to each other while the magnetic force acts between the positioning units, and thus the handle may be positioned at a correct position. That is, the installation position of the handle is guided to the correct position by the positioning unit, and the handle is prevented from being separated from the correct position.

For this, the positioning units of each of the dryer and the stand may be disposed to face each other when the handle is positioned at a correct position.

Further, when a magnetic force acts between the dryer and the positioning units of each of the holders, any one of the positioning units may include a magnet, and the other one thereof may include a magnet and/or a magnetic substance attracted to the magnet.

Further, when the positioning units of each of the dryer and the stand are in contact with each other and coupled to each other, any one of the positioning units may include a protruding portion protruding outward, and the other one thereof may include an insertion portion into which the protruding portion is inserted.

Further, while the magnetic force acts between the positioning units of each of the dryer and the pedestal, when the positioning units are in contact with each other and coupled to each other, all the positioning units include magnets of opposite polarities, and any one of the positioning units may include a protruding portion protruding outward, and the other one thereof may include an insertion portion into which the protruding portion is inserted.

Means for solving the problems not described above can be sufficiently derived from the description of the embodiments of the present disclosure.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a home appliance including a dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the dryer of fig. 1;

fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the dryer of fig. 1;

fig. 4A to 4D are exploded perspective views illustrating the dryer of fig. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partially in section, showing a housing of the dryer of FIG. 1;

fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing an internal configuration of the dryer of fig. 1;

fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating a use state of a home appliance including a dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the stand of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing an upper side of the stand of FIG. 1;

fig. 10A to 10E are diagrams illustrating a shape in which a dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is mounted in a cradle;

fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating a shape of adjusting a polarity of each of a plurality of magnetic pixels provided in a positioning unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

fig. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of adjusting a coupling force between a dryer and a support by adjusting a polarity of each of a plurality of magnetic pixels provided in a positioning unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[ description of symbols ]

1: household appliance comprising a dryer

100: drying apparatus

110: shell body

120. 130, 130: handle (CN)

121: projecting rib

122: protrusion

200: support base

210: base seat

220: bearing seat

221: upper barrel

222: lower barrel

p 0: insertion groove

p 1: vertical guide path

p 2: the first mounting groove

p 3: horizontal guide path

p 4: second mounting groove

Detailed Description

Advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods of accomplishing the same will become apparent with reference to the following detailed description of embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein, but may be embodied in many different forms that are provided so that the disclosure of the present disclosure is complete and will be fully understood by those skilled in the art, the scope of which is defined only by the scope of the claims. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

The present disclosure may be described as a three-dimensional coordinate system illustrated in fig. 1 referred to as front, back, up, down, left, and right, respectively.

The present disclosure can be described by X, Y, and Z axes orthogonal to each other shown in fig. 7 and the like based on a spatial orthogonal coordinate system. In this specification, the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis are defined with the vertical direction as the Z-axis direction and the front-rear direction as the X-axis direction. The respective axis directions (X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, Z-axis direction) mean two directions in which the respective axes extend. The "+" sign (+ X-axis direction, + Y-axis direction, + Z-axis direction) ahead of each axis direction means a positive direction, which is one of two directions in which each axis extends. The "-" sign (-X-axis direction, -Y-axis direction, -Z-axis direction) preceding each axis direction means a negative direction, which is the other of the two directions in which each axis extends.

Hereinafter, a home appliance including a dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 9.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a home appliance including a dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating the dryer of fig. 1, fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the dryer of fig. 1, fig. 4A to 4D are exploded perspective views illustrating the dryer of fig. 1, fig. 5 is a partial sectional perspective view illustrating a housing of the dryer of fig. 1, and fig. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an internal configuration of the dryer of fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a view illustrating a use state of a home appliance including a dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating a stand of fig. 1, and fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating an upper side of the stand of fig. 1.

As shown in fig. 1, a home appliance (hereinafter, simply referred to as "home appliance") 1 including a dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a dryer 100 and a supporter 200.

The dryer 100 is a device that dries an object to be dried, such as a human or a pet, using drying air discharged through the discharge port 174.

As an example, as described later, the dryer 100 has a built-in battery 80, and thus a user can carry the dryer 100 and dry an object to be dried. However, according to an embodiment, external power for replacing the battery may be applied to the dryer 100 in a wired or wireless manner, in which case the user may dry the object to be dried while holding the dryer 100.

The dryer 100 may be detachably installed in the cradle 200, so that a user can dry an object to be dried without holding the dryer 100. Thus, there are advantages in that: the user can dry the object to be dried without being restricted by the action of holding the dryer 100.

Each of the dryer 100 and the cradle 200 may perform various functions such as nursing a subject to be dried or purifying indoor air, in addition to the discharge of the dry air and the installation of the dryer 100, and the configuration provided in each of the dryer 100 and the cradle 200 will be briefly described as follows.

< description of configuration and function of dryer >

As shown in fig. 2, 5 and 6, the dryer 100 includes: a hollow housing 110; a fan 150 that discharges the air flow flowing into the case 110 to the outside; and a heater H that heats the air flowing into the housing 110.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4A, the air flow discharged to the outside of the case 110 may be guided by a discharge duct 170. As an example, the discharge tube 170 may receive power from the motor 160 to rotate along a groove 184 formed in the cylindrical guide 180. Thereby, when the exhaust duct 170 is not rotated, concentrated wind for concentrating and exhausting the dry air to a predetermined dry area can be realized, and when the exhaust duct 170 is rotated, diffused wind for diffusing and exhausting the dry air to a wider area can be realized.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4B, the dryer 100 may include an illumination device 10 radiating light toward the front thereof and an ionizer 20 releasing ions. As an example, when light emitted from the light emitting panel 11 provided in the lighting device 10 is radiated toward the front of the dryer 100 through the light diffusion module 12 and the light guide 13, the state of the skin or hair of the subject to be dried can be easily observed even when drying is performed in a dark place. Further, ions generated in the ionizer 20 are discharged toward the front of the dryer 100 via the ion nozzle 21 to prevent foreign substances such as dust from being adsorbed on the object to be dried and to moisturize the skin and hair of the object to be dried.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4C, at the rear of the dryer 100, a display unit 40 for displaying information on the above-described functions, whether or not various functions implemented in the dryer 100 are operated, and the temperature of the object to be dried and the temperature of the drying air detected by each of the outside temperature sensor S1 and the discharge temperature sensor S2 may be provided.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4D, handles 120 and 130, which are held by a user, may be coupled to the lower side of the housing 110. The

handles

120 and 130 may include a handle body 120 for forming an outer circumferential surface thereof and a handle end 130 coupled to a lower portion of the handle body 120 to form a lower surface thereof.

As an example, the handle body 120 may be formed in a cylindrical shape, and the handle end 130 may be formed in a hemispherical shape. That is, the outer circumferences of the

handles

120 and 130 and the inner circumference of the socket 220 may be formed in a circular shape, in which case the inner circumference of the socket 220 to which the

handles

120 and 130 described later are mounted may also be formed in a circular shape. Inside the

handles

120 and 130, a rechargeable battery 80 for supplying power to the fan 150, the heater H, the motor 160, the lighting device 10, the ionizer 20, and the display unit 40 may be provided.

< description of the configuration and function of the cradle >

As shown in fig. 1 and 8, the stand 200 includes: a bracket 230 extending in a vertical direction or a Z-axis direction; a base 210 disposed at a lower side of the bracket 230; a socket 220 provided at an upper side of the bracket 230 and in which the

handles

120 and 130 of the dryer are detachably mounted; and a cover 240 for forming a side surface of the cradle 200.

As shown in fig. 8, air in the indoor space in which the stand 200 is located may flow to the inside of the stand 200 by the

fans

283 and 284 and be purified by the air purifier 280. As an example, air purifier 280 may include: a photocatalytic filter 281 which is provided at the rear surface of the holder 230 and can remove the odor of the pet or the old through the principle of decomposing harmful substances by a photochemical reaction; and a light emitting module 282 for activating the photocatalyst.

As shown in fig. 8, the dryer may include a light treatment device 270 for radiating light toward the front of the cradle 200. As an example, the light care device 270 is disposed at the front side of the rack 230 and radiates light having a spectrum similar to natural light from an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) panel to help alleviate depression symptoms of users and pets due to lack of going out.

As shown in fig. 8 and 9, the socket 220 is provided to be vertically moved, rotated in a left-right direction, and/or rotated in a front-rear direction to convert a drying air discharging direction of the dryer 100 installed in the socket 220 into a vertical direction, a left-right direction, and/or a front-rear direction. As an example, the shoe 220 may receive power from the lift motor 262 through the support 250 coupled thereto and the vertical rod 239 connected to the support 250 to move in a vertical direction. In addition, the socket 220 may receive power from the rotating motor 263 through the support 250 to rotate in the left and right direction around the groove formed in the vertical rod 239 and the protrusion 251b inserted into the groove. Further, the socket 220 may receive power from the tilt motor 261 through the tilt gear teeth 223a formed at one side to rotate (i.e., tilt) in the front and rear direction.

As shown in fig. 8, in the stand 230, a rechargeable battery 291 for supplying power to the

fans

283 and 284, the air cleaner 280, the light-care device 270, the elevating motor 262, the rotating motor 263, and the tilting motor 261 may be provided. In this case, the battery 291 may be charged when external power is applied through the docking station 294 coupled to the cradle 210.

As shown in fig. 4D and 9, a pair of electrode terminals E11 and E12 may be provided at the

handles

120 and 130, and a pair of electrode terminals E21 and E22 may be provided at the socket 220 to correspond thereto. When the

handles

120 and 130 are mounted in the sockets 220, external power may be applied to the battery 80 of the dryer through the electrode terminals to charge the battery 80. Further, the reference numeral E11 and the reference numeral E21 contacting with E11 are formed as dot-shaped terminals, and the reference numeral E12 and the reference numeral E22 contacting with E12 are formed as ring-shaped terminals, so that the charging can be continuously performed even if the

handles

120 and 130 are rotated on the socket 220.

In the above description, the structures and functions of the dryer 100 and the stand 200 provided in the home appliance 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure are simply described. However, as described above, when the socket 220 moves in the vertical direction, rotates in the lateral direction, and/or rotates in the front-rear direction (hereinafter, the movement of the socket 220 may be collectively referred to as the posture change of the socket 220), the

handles

120 and 130 of the dryer installed in the socket 220 may be separated from the socket 220.

Accordingly, the present disclosure has been designed to prevent the dryer 100 from being damaged or a safety hazard such as a fire from occurring due to the dryer 100 being unintentionally separated from the cradle 200 during the posture change of the cradle 220 by enabling the

handles

120 and 130 to be fixed at a predetermined position when the

handles

120 and 130 of the dryer are mounted in the cradle 220.

Hereinafter, in the configuration of the home appliance according to the embodiment of the present disclosure, a configuration enabling the

handles

120 and 130 to be positioned or fixed at a predetermined position on the socket 220 and a configuration related thereto will be described in detail with reference to fig. 1 to 12.

Fig. 10A to 10E are diagrams illustrating a shape in which a dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is mounted in a cradle, fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating a shape in which a polarity of each of a plurality of magnetic pixels provided in a positioning unit is adjusted according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and fig. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a method of adjusting a coupling force between the dryer and the cradle by adjusting a polarity of each of a plurality of magnetic pixels provided in the positioning unit according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

In the home appliance 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure configured in the above and following description, each of the dryer 100 and the stand 200 includes the positioning unit provided in each of the

handles

120 and 130 and the socket 220.

The positioning unit enables the

handles

120 and 130 to be positioned at a predetermined position (hereinafter, a correct position) on the socket 220. Here, the positioning of the

handles

120 and 130 at the correct positions may mean not only guiding the

handles

120 and 130 to the correct positions but also fixing the

handles

120 and 130 at the correct positions.

According to embodiments, magnetic force acts between the positioning units, the positioning units contact and are coupled to each other, or the positioning units contact and are coupled to each other using magnetic force acting therebetween, and thus the

handles

120 and 130 can be positioned at a correct position, and the respective embodiments will be described in detail as follows. In this case, in the following description of the respective embodiments, description of the same configuration as that previously described will be omitted.

< first embodiment-when magnetic force acts between positioning units >

As shown in fig. 10A, when the

handles

120 and 130 are mounted in the socket 220, a magnetic force acts between the positioning units of each of the dryer 100 and the stand 200 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure, so that the

handles

120 and 130 can be positioned at correct positions.

A positioning unit (hereinafter, a first positioning unit) PU1(M11, M12) of the dryer 100 may be provided at one side of the

handles

120 and 130. Fig. 10A shows that the first positioning unit PU1 is provided at one side of the handle end 130, but is not limited thereto, and the first positioning unit PU1 may be provided at one side of the handle body 120.

The first positioning unit PU1 may include a plurality of first positioning units spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. As an example, as shown in fig. 10A, the dryer 100 may include two positioning units M11 and M12 spaced apart by an angle of 180 °.

When the

handles

120 and 130 are positioned to the correct position, a positioning unit (hereinafter, a second positioning unit) PU2(M21, M22) of the cradle 200 may be disposed at one side of the socket 220 to face the first positioning unit PU 1.

As shown in fig. 8, 9 and 10A, the socket 220 may include an upper barrel 221 and a lower barrel 222, which form a groove 220A into which the

handles

120 and 130 are inserted. Further, the socket 220 may include a tub cover 223 covering an outer side of the upper tub 221. In this case, when the

handles

120 and 130 are mounted in the socket 220, the inner surface of the upper tub 221 may be in close contact with the outer side surface of the handle body 120, and the inner surface of the lower tub 222 may be in close contact with the outer side surface of the handle end 130.

Fig. 10A shows that the second positioning unit PU2 is disposed at one side of the lower tub 222 of the socket 220, but is not limited thereto, and the second positioning unit PU2 may be disposed at one side of the upper tub 221.

The second positioning unit PU2 may be a plurality of second positioning units spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. As one example, as shown in fig. 10A, the stand 200 may include two positioning units M21 and M22 spaced apart by an angle of 180 °.

As described above, when the plurality of first positioning units M11 and M12 and the plurality of second positioning units M21 and M22 are provided, the coupling force between the

handles

120 and 130 and the shoe 220 may be increased and the coupling stability thereof may be improved, as compared to the case where the first positioning units M11 and M12 and the second positioning units M21 and M22 are provided in a single arrangement.

Magnetic force may act between the first positioning units M11 and M12 and the second positioning units M21 and M22. Accordingly, one of the first positioning units M11 and M12 and the second positioning units M21 and M22 includes a magnet, and the other thereof may include a magnetic substance attracted to the magnet. Alternatively, according to an embodiment, each of the first positioning units M11 and M12 and the second positioning units M21 and M22 may include magnets having polarities opposite to each other.

That is, as a force acting between the magnet-magnetic substance or the magnet-magnet, the

handles

120 and 130 can be positioned and fixed in the correct position by using the principle that an attractive force acts between different types of poles (N pole-S pole) and a repulsive force acts between the same types of poles (N pole-N pole, S pole-S pole).

As an example, as shown in fig. 10A, when the

handles

120 and 130 are mounted in the socket 220, in reference number M11 among the first positioning units M11 and M12, magnetic poles of a different type from reference number M21 are formed based on surfaces facing the second positioning units M21 and M22, so an attractive force may act on each other, and magnetic poles of the same type as reference number M22 are formed, so a repulsive force may act on each other.

Further, as shown in fig. 10A, when the

handles

120 and 130 are mounted in the socket 220, in reference M12 among the first positioning units M11 and M12, magnetic poles of a different type from reference M22 are formed based on surfaces facing the second positioning units M21 and M22, so an attractive force acts on each other, and magnetic poles of the same type as reference M21 are formed, so a repulsive force can act on each other.

As a result, when the

handles

120 and 130 are mounted in the socket 220, the reference number M11 may move away from the reference number M22 and close to the reference number M21, and the reference number M12 may move away from the reference number M21 and close to the reference number M22, according to the above-described magnetic force (attractive or repulsive force). That is, the correct position may be understood as a position where the reference numerals M11 and M12 face the reference numerals M21 and M22, respectively, in which case the discharge direction of the drying air from the discharge opening 174 of the dryer may be directed forward or toward the + X axis direction.

Accordingly, regardless of the direction in which the user mounts the

handles

120 and 130 in the socket 220, the

handles

120 and 130 may be guided to be positioned at the correct positions, and the

handles

120 and 130 may be fixed while being positioned at the correct positions.

In the above description, two first positioning units M11 and M12 and two second positioning units M21 and M22 are provided, but each of the first positioning units M11 and M12 and the second positioning units M21 and M22 may have a single or three or more.

As described above, in consideration of the user's grip feeling, the outer circumferences of the

handles

120 and 130 may be formed in a circular shape, and the inner circumference of the socket 220 may also be formed in a circular shape to correspond to the shapes of the

handles

120 and 130. In this case, the guiding or moving of the

handles

120 and 130 to the predetermined position by the positioning unit may be smoothly performed. However, the shapes of the

handles

120 and 130 and the socket 220 of the present disclosure are not limited thereto.

< second embodiment-when positioning units are brought into contact with each other and coupled to each other >

As shown in fig. 10B, when the

handles

120 and 130 are mounted in the socket 220, the positioning units of each of the dryer 100 and the stand 200 according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure are in contact with and coupled to each other, and thus the

handles

120 and 130 can be positioned at the correct positions.

A positioning unit (hereinafter, a first positioning unit) PU 1' 121 of the dryer 100 may be provided at one side of the

handles

120 and 130. Fig. 10B shows that the first positioning unit PU1 'is disposed at one side of the handle body 120, but is not limited thereto, and the first positioning unit PU 1' may be disposed at one side of the handle end 130.

Fig. 10B shows the first positioning unit PU1 'in a single arrangement, but according to an embodiment, the first positioning unit PU 1' may include a plurality of first positioning units spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

When the

handles

120 and 130 are positioned at the normal position, a positioning unit PU2 'p 0 (hereinafter, a second positioning unit) of the cradle 200 may be disposed at one side of the socket 220 to contact the first positioning unit PU 1'.

Fig. 10B shows that the second positioning unit PU2 'is formed at one side of the upper tub 221 of the socket 220, but is not limited thereto, and the second positioning unit PU 2' may be provided at one side of the lower tub 222.

Fig. 10B illustrates that the second positioning unit PU2 'is provided in a single unit, but according to an embodiment, the second positioning unit PU 2' may be a plurality of second positioning units spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

As described above, when the first positioning unit PU1 'and the second positioning unit PU 2' are each disposed in a single unit, repair and management can be facilitated as compared with the case where a plurality of first positioning units PU1 'and second positioning units PU 2' are disposed.

The first positioning unit PU1 'and the second positioning unit PU 2' may contact each other and be coupled to each other. Accordingly, either one of the first positioning unit PU1 'and the second positioning unit PU 2' may include an outwardly protruding portion, and the other one thereof may include an insertion portion into which the protruding portion is inserted. As an example, as shown in fig. 10B, first positioning unit PU1 'may include a protruding portion and second positioning unit PU 2' may include an inserting portion.

In this case, the protruding portion may include a protruding rib 121 extending in a direction in which the

handles

120 and 130 are mounted in the socket 220 (i.e., -Z-axis direction) (hereinafter, a first direction). Further, the insertion portion may include an insertion groove p0 extending in the first direction and into which at least a portion of the protruding rib 121 is inserted. In this case, fig. 10B illustrates that the insertion groove p0 is recessed at one side of the upper tub 221, and according to an embodiment, the insertion groove may be formed between two ribs protruding from one side of the upper tub 221.

The

handles

120 and 130 may be mounted in the socket 220 only in the direction in which the protruding ribs 121 are inserted into the insertion grooves p 0. That is, the correct position may be understood as a position where the protruding rib 121 is in contact with the insertion groove p0 and coupled to the insertion groove p0, in which case the discharge direction of the drying air from the discharge port 174 of the dryer may be directed forward or toward the + X axis direction.

Thus, the user can guide the

handles

120 and 130 to be positioned at the correct positions, and the

handles

120 and 130 can be fixed to be positioned at the correct positions.

The protruding portion and the inserting portion may be formed in a direction deviating from a discharge direction of the drying air of the dryer. That is, when the protruding portion and the inserting portion are formed at positions shifted to the right in front of the

handles

120 and 130, if the user grips the

handles

120 and 130 with the right hand, the positions of the protruding portion and the inserting portion can be easily checked.

< third to fifth embodiments-when positioning units are in contact with each other and coupled to each other >

As shown in fig. 10C, similar to the second embodiment, the positioning units of each of the dryer 100 and the supporter 200 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure contact and are coupled to each other, and thus the

handles

120 and 130 can be positioned at the correct positions.

That is, the positioning unit (hereinafter, a first positioning unit) PU1 ″ 122 of the dryer 100 and the positioning units (hereinafter, a second positioning unit) PU2 ″ p1 and p2 of the cradle 200 may contact and be coupled to each other. Accordingly, either one of the first positioning unit PU1 "and the second positioning unit PU 2" may include an outwardly protruding portion, and the other one thereof may include an insertion portion into which the protruding portion is inserted. As an example, as shown in fig. 10C, first positioning unit PU1 "may include a protruding portion and second positioning unit PU 2" may include an inserted portion.

However, unlike the second embodiment described above, the protruding portion according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure may include the protrusion 122 of the elastic material. Thus, when a predetermined force is applied to protrusion 122, the length and/or shape of protrusion 122 may change, and when a predetermined force is not applied to protrusion 122, protrusion 122 may return to its original length and/or original shape.

As an example, the protrusion 122 may be made of a rubber material and vary in volume according to applied pressure, include a spring according to an embodiment, and may adjust the level of protrusion from the

handles

120 and 130 according to the applied pressure.

The insertion portion may include a vertical guide path p1 and a first seating groove p 2.

As shown in fig. 10C, the vertical guide path p1 may extend in a direction in which the

handles

120 and 130 are mounted in the socket 220 (i.e., -Z-axis direction) (hereinafter, first direction).

In this case, the vertical guide path p1 may be recessed at one side of the upper tub 221, and the length of the recess is less than the level at which the protrusion 122 protrudes from the outer side surface of the handle main body 120. As a result, when the

handles

120 and 130 are mounted in the socket 220, the vertical guide path p1 may apply pressure to the protrusion 122 in the backward direction or the-X-axis direction, so that the protrusion 122 is compressed by a predetermined ratio or more. Further, the vertical guide path p1 may guide the sliding movement of the protrusion 122 in the first direction.

Therefore, in order to install the handle 120 in the socket 220, it is necessary for the user to apply a predetermined force and insert the protrusion 122 into the vertical guide path p 1. In other words, the

handles

120 and 130 may be mounted in the socket 220 only in the direction in which the protrusion 122 is inserted into the vertical guide path p 1. That is, the correct position may be understood as a position where the protrusion 122 is in contact with the vertical guide path p1 and coupled to the vertical guide path p1, in which case the discharge direction of the drying air from the discharge port 174 of the dryer may be directed forward or in the + X-axis direction.

As shown in fig. 10C, the first seating groove p2 may be connected to a lower portion of the vertical guide path p1 or one end in the-Z-axis direction.

In this case, the first seating groove p2 may be recessed at one side of the upper tub 221, and the length of the recess is greater than the level at which the vertical guide path p1 is recessed. As a result, the first seating groove p2 may release at least some of the pressure applied to the protrusion 122 by the vertical guide path p 1. Further, the protrusion 122 may be seated in the first seating groove p2, and when the protrusion 122 is seated in the first seating groove p2, the user may feel an operational feeling, and thus the dryer is user-friendly.

Accordingly, the protrusion 122 passing through the vertical guide path p1 according to the predetermined force applied by the user may gradually increase in volume and be seated in the first seating groove p2 and remain seated in the first seating groove p 2. In other words, the protrusion 122 disposed in the first disposition groove p2 may remain disposed in the first disposition groove p2 unless a predetermined force is applied thereto.

Accordingly, the user can guide the

handles

120 and 130 to be positioned at the correct positions, and the

handles

120 and 130 can be positioned at the correct positions to be fixed.

As shown in fig. 10D, in the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, the insertion portion may further include a horizontal guide path p3 in addition to the vertical guide path p1 and the first seating groove p2 into which the protrusion 122 is inserted.

The horizontal guide path p3 may extend from the first seating groove p2 in a rotational direction about the first direction (i.e., a rotational direction about the Z axis) (hereinafter, a second direction).

In this case, the horizontal guide path p3 may be recessed at one side of the upper tub 221, and the length of the recess is less than the level at which the protrusion 122 protrudes from the outer side surface of the handle main body 120. As a result, when the

handles

120 and 130 mounted in the socket 220 are rotated in the second direction, the horizontal guide path p3 may apply pressure to the protrusion 122 in a radial direction of the

handles

120 and 130 or in a direction on the XY plane, so that the protrusion 122 is compressed by a predetermined ratio or more. Further, the horizontal guide path p3 may guide the sliding movement of the projection 122 in the second direction.

Therefore, in order for the protrusion 122 to move into the horizontal guide path p3 and pass through the horizontal guide path p3 after leaving the first seating groove p2, it is necessary for the user to apply a predetermined force in the second direction. Accordingly, the user can rotate the handle 120 installed in the socket 220 in the second direction and freely switch the discharge direction of the drying air from the discharge port 174 of the dryer left and right.

As shown in fig. 10D, in the fifth embodiment according to the present disclosure, the insertion part may further include a plurality of second seating grooves p4 in addition to the vertical guide path p1, the first seating groove p2, and the horizontal guide path p3, into which the protrusion 122 is inserted.

A plurality of second seating grooves p4 may be formed in a portion of the horizontal guide path p3 and disposed at a predetermined distance from each other together with the first seating grooves p 2.

In this case, the second seating groove p4 may be recessed at one side of the upper tub 221, and the length of the recess is greater than the level at which the horizontal guide path p3 is recessed. As a result, the second seating groove p4 may release at least some of the pressure applied to the protrusion 122 by the horizontal guide path p 3. Further, the protrusion 122 may be seated in the second seating groove p4, and when the protrusion 122 is seated in each of the plurality of second seating grooves p4, the user may feel an operational feeling, and thus the dryer is user-friendly.

Accordingly, the protrusion 122 passing through the horizontal guide path p3 according to the predetermined force applied by the user may gradually increase in volume and may be seated in the second seating groove p4 and remain seated in the second seating groove p 4. In other words, the protrusion 122 disposed in the second disposition groove p4 may remain disposed in the second disposition groove p4 unless a predetermined force is applied thereto.

Accordingly, the user may rotate the handle 120 installed in the socket 220 in the second direction and freely switch the discharge direction of the drying air from the discharge port 174 of the dryer left and right, and the handle 120 may be fixed at a plurality of points to prevent the unintentional rotation.

In summary, the vertical guide path p1, the horizontal guide path p3, the first seating groove p2, and the second seating groove p4, into which the protrusion 122 is inserted, are recessed in the protrusion direction of the protrusion 122, and the recess level of the first seating groove p2 and the second seating groove p4 may be greater than the recess level of the vertical guide path p1 and the horizontal guide path p 3.

Accordingly, since a predetermined force is required to enable the protrusion 122 seated in the first and second seating grooves p2 and p4 to be released to the outside of the socket 220 through the vertical and horizontal guide paths p1 and p3, the handle 120 may be prevented from being separated from the socket 220 during posture change of the socket 220.

< sixth embodiment-when a magnetic force acts between the positioning units and the positioning units contact and are coupled to each other >

As shown in fig. 10E, the positioning unit of each of the dryer 100 and the stand 200 according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure may be understood as a combined example of the first embodiment and the second embodiment.

That is, when the

handles

120 and 130 are positioned at the correct positions, the positioning units of each of the dryer 100 and the stand 200 according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure may be disposed to face each other.

The positioning unit of each of the dryer 100 and the cradle 200 according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure may include the first positioning units M11 and M12 and the second positioning units M21 and M22 which magnetically act on each other in the first embodiment. As an example, the first positioning units M11 and M12 and the second positioning units M21 and M22 may be magnets having polarities opposite to each other.

Further, the positioning unit of each of the dryer 100 and the supporter 200 according to the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure may include the first positioning unit 121 and the second positioning unit p0 contacting and coupled to each other in the second embodiment. As an example, the first positioning unit 121 may be a protrusion rib 121 as a protrusion portion protruding outward, and the second positioning unit may be an insertion groove p0 as an insertion portion into which the protrusion portion is inserted.

Therefore, in the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure, the coupling force between the

handles

120 and 130 and the socket 220 may be increased and the coupling stability thereof may be improved as compared to each of the first and second embodiments. The present disclosure can be implemented in an example in which the second embodiment is combined with the first embodiment and various examples in which the second embodiment and/or the third to fifth embodiments are combined with the first embodiment.

When the positioning unit of the above embodiment includes a magnet, the magnet may include at least one of a permanent magnet and an electromagnet. Here, the electromagnet is a magnet that is magnetized when current flows therethrough, and returns to an unmagnetized original state when the current is interrupted. Therefore, when the positioning unit is provided with an electromagnet, there is an advantage in that: the coupling and the coupling strength of the

handles

120 and 130 to the socket 220 can be easily controlled according to whether or not the current is supplied and the supply amount of the current.

Further, as shown in fig. 11, the electromagnet may include a plurality of magnetic pixels capable of adjusting respective polarities according to a predetermined control signal. Here, the magnetic pixel is a magnetic pole formed in one region, and one magnetic pixel may be an N pole or an S pole.

In this case, the home appliance 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a controller for controlling the polarity of each of the plurality of magnetic pixels. That is, the controller may adjust the number of magnetic pixels having polarities opposite to each other (hereinafter, the number of opposite magnetic pixels) between the positioning units of each of the dryer 100 and the cradle 200.

The controller may be implemented using at least one of an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), a Digital Signal Processing Device (DSPD), a Programmable Logic Device (PLD), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a processor, a controller, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, and an electrical unit for performing other functions.

For example, the controller may control to arrange the N-pole magnetic pixels in the first region 1a among the

regions

1a and 1b in which the magnetic pixels of the first positioning units M11 and M12 are arranged. In this case, the controller may control to arrange the S-pole magnetic pixels in the second region 2a of the

regions

2a and 2b in which the magnetic pixels of the second positioning units M21 and M22 are arranged.

Accordingly, in the first and

second regions

1a and 2a, a magnetic force (attractive force) acts between the first positioning units M11 and M12 and the second positioning units M21 and M22, and thus the handle 120 can be positioned and fixed at a correct position.

In this way, by adjusting the number of opposing magnetic pixels (i.e., adjusting the area of interaction magnetic force), the controller can control the coupling and coupling force of the handle 120 and the socket 220.

For example, when the handle 120 is mounted in the shoe 220, the controller may control the number of opposite magnetic pixels to the first number of pixels if it is determined that there is no posture change of the shoe. Further, when the handle 120 is mounted in the shoe 220, if it is determined that there is a posture change of the shoe, the controller may control the number of opposite magnetic pixels to a second number of pixels greater than the first number of pixels.

Thereby, in the case where there is a change in the posture of the socket 220, the coupling force of the handle 120 and the socket 220 is increased as compared with the case where there is no change in the posture of the socket 220, and thus the handle 120 is easily prevented from being separated from the moved socket 220. Further, when there is no posture change of the socket 220, only the electric power required to prevent the handle 120 from being detached from the fixed socket 220 is consumed, which is also advantageous from the viewpoint of energy saving.

A method of adjusting the coupling force between the handle 120 and the socket 220 by adjusting the polarity of each of the plurality of magnetic pixels as described above will be described with reference to fig. 12. The respective steps constituting the control method described later may be executed by the controller.

As shown in fig. 12, the step S10 of turning on the positioning unit may be performed. Here, the opening of the positioning unit may be understood as a preparation step of magnetically coupling the handle 120 and the socket 220 by supplying a predetermined current to an electromagnet provided in the positioning unit when the handle 120 is mounted in the socket 220.

After step S10, step S20 of detecting a weight change of the socket 220 may be performed. Here, the weight of the socket 220 may vary depending on whether the handle 120 is mounted in the socket 220. In order to detect the weight change of the socket 220, the home appliance 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure may have a load sensor that may detect the weight change of the socket 220.

After the step S20, a step S30 of determining whether the handle 120 is mounted in the socket 220 may be performed.

In step S30, if it is determined that the handle 120 is not installed in the socket 220, the process may return to step S20. In step S30, if it is determined that the handle 120 is mounted in the socket 220, step S40 of detecting a posture change of the socket 220 may be performed. Here, the posture change of the shoe 220 may be detected by a separate sensor, but may be detected according to whether a control signal indicating the posture change of the shoe 220 is issued, as described above.

After step S40, step S50 of determining whether there is no posture change of the socket 220 may be performed.

In step S50, if it is determined that the shoe 220 is fixed without any posture change, the number of opposite magnetic pixels may be controlled to the first number of pixels (step S51). In step S50, if it is determined that there is a change in the posture of the shoe 220, the number of opposite magnetic pixels may be controlled to a second number of pixels greater than the first number of pixels (step S52).

After step S51 or S52, step S60 of determining whether the positioning unit is turned off may be performed. Here, the closing of the positioning unit may be understood as a releasing step of releasing the magnetic coupling between the socket 220 and the handle 120 by not supplying a predetermined current to an electromagnet provided in the positioning unit. Thereby, when a user carries the dryer 100 and dries an object to be dried or when there is no risk of the handle 120 installed in the socket 220 being released from the socket 220, it is possible to save energy by cutting off unnecessary current supply.

In step S60, if it is determined that the positioning unit is turned off, the control method is terminated, and if it is determined that the positioning unit is not turned off, the control method may return to step S20.

In the above description, a home appliance including a dryer according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes and modifications within the scope of the present disclosure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.

According to the present disclosure, the following effects are obtained.

First, when the handle of the dryer is mounted in the socket of the stand, the user can dry the object to be dried without holding the dryer.

Second, the installation position of the handle can be easily guided to a predetermined position (hereinafter, a correct position) on the socket by the positioning unit. Accordingly, a magnetic force may act between the positioning units provided in each of the handle and the socket, the positioning units may contact and be coupled to each other, or the positioning units may contact and be coupled to each other while the magnetic force acts therebetween.

Third, the handle may be prevented from being separated from the correct position by the positioning unit, unlike the user's intention. Therefore, when the handle is positioned at a correct position by the coupling force by physical contact or magnetic force (attraction) acting on each other, the positioning units of each of the dryer and the stand may be disposed to face each other.

Fourth, the coupling force between the handle and the socket can be easily adjusted. Therefore, when the positioning unit includes an electromagnet, the strength of the magnetic force acting between the dryer and the positioning unit of each of the stands can be adjusted by adjusting the current supplied to the electromagnet.

Fifth, the coupling force between the handle and the socket can be easily adjusted. Therefore, when the positioning unit includes an electromagnet having a plurality of magnetic pixels, by adjusting the polarity of each of the plurality of magnetic pixels, the area where the magnetic force acts between the dryer and the positioning unit of each of the holders can be adjusted.

Sixth, the coupling force between the handle and the socket can be easily adjusted according to whether there is a change in the posture of the socket. Therefore, when the positioning unit includes an electromagnet having a plurality of magnetic pixels, in the presence of the posture change of the socket, the polarity of each of the plurality of magnetic pixels may be adjusted so that the area where the magnetic force acts between the dryer and the positioning unit of each of the stands is set to be larger than that in the absence of the posture change of the socket. Therefore, in the case where there is a change in the posture of the bearing, the coupling force between the handle and the bearing is increased as compared with the case where there is no change in the posture of the bearing, and therefore the handle can be easily prevented from being separated from the moving bearing. Further, in the absence of the posture change of the socket, only the electric power required to prevent the handle from being separated from the fixed socket is consumed, which is also advantageous from the viewpoint of energy saving.

Seventh, the coupling between the handle and the socket can be smoothly achieved without additional energy consumption. Accordingly, one of the positioning units of each of the dryer and the stand may include a protruding portion, and the other may include an insertion portion into which the protruding portion is inserted.

Eighth, when the protruding portion and the insertion portion included in the positioning unit of each of the dryer and the cradle are formed in a direction deviated from the discharging direction of the drying air, the user can easily check the position of the protruding portion and/or the insertion portion while the user holds the handle.

Ninth, the handle may be prevented from being separated from the predetermined path on the socket by the coupling via physical contact of the handle and the socket. Accordingly, the protruding portion may include a protruding rib extending in a direction in which the handle is mounted in the socket, and the insertion portion may include an insertion groove into which at least a portion of the protruding rib is inserted.

Tenth, the handle may be prevented from being separated from a predetermined path or point on the socket by the coupling via physical contact between the handle and the socket. Accordingly, the protruding portion may include a protrusion of an elastic material, and the insertion portion may include a vertical guide path for guiding the sliding movement in a direction in which the handle of the protrusion is mounted in the socket, and a first seating groove in which the protrusion is seated. Here, the protrusion is seated on the first seating groove in an original state (or a state close thereto) after sliding on the vertical guide path in a compressed state, and thus the handle may be fixed on the seat unless a predetermined force is applied to the protrusion.

Eleventh, the handle is rotated in a rotational direction around a direction in which the handle is mounted in the socket without being separated from the socket, and thus the discharge direction of the dry air can be freely adjusted. Thus, the insertion portion may comprise a horizontal guide path for guiding the sliding movement in a rotational direction around the direction in which the handle of the protrusion is mounted in the socket.

Twelfth, the handle is rotated in a rotating direction about a direction in which the handle is mounted in the socket, so that the dry air discharging direction can be freely adjusted, and the handle is fixed at a plurality of points, thereby preventing it from being unintentionally rotated. Accordingly, the insertion portion may include a plurality of second seating grooves formed in a portion of the horizontal guide path and seating the protrusion. Here, the protrusion is seated in the first seating groove or the plurality of second seating grooves in an original state (or a state close thereto) after sliding on the horizontal guide path in a compressed state, and thus the handle may be fixed on the socket unless a predetermined force is applied to the protrusion.

Claims

1. A household appliance, comprising:

a dryer for discharging air for drying and formed with a handle at one side to be held by a user; and

a support having a socket in which the handle is mounted,

wherein the dryer and the holder each include a positioning unit provided at each of the handle and the socket and adapted to enable the handle to be positioned at a predetermined position on the socket when a magnetic force acts between the handle and the socket when the handle is mounted in the socket, wherein the predetermined position on the socket is referred to as a correct position.

2. The home appliance according to claim 1, wherein a positioning unit of the dryer is provided at one side of the handle, wherein the positioning unit of the dryer is referred to as a first positioning unit, and

wherein the positioning unit of the stand is provided at one side of the socket to face the first positioning unit when the handle is positioned at the correct position, wherein the positioning unit of the stand is referred to as a second positioning unit.

3. The household appliance according to claim 2, wherein said first positioning unit and said second positioning unit each comprise magnets having polarities opposite to each other,

wherein the magnet includes at least one of a permanent magnet and an electromagnet, and

wherein the electromagnet comprises a plurality of magnetic pixels, each polarity of which can be adjusted according to a predetermined control signal.

4. The household appliance of claim 3, further comprising a controller for controlling a polarity of each of the plurality of magnetic pixels,

wherein the controller:

adjusting the number of magnetic pixels of opposite polarities to each other between the first positioning unit and the second positioning unit, wherein the number of magnetic pixels of opposite polarities to each other is referred to as the number of opposite magnetic pixels, and

controlling the number of the opposite magnetic pixels to a first number of pixels when it is determined that there is no change in the posture of the shoe as a case where the handle is mounted in the shoe, and controlling the number of the opposite magnetic pixels to a second number of pixels greater than the first number of pixels when it is determined that there is a change in the posture of the shoe as the shoe moves in a predetermined direction.

5. A household appliance, comprising:

a support having a socket in which the handle is mounted,

wherein the dryer and the cradle each include a positioning unit provided at each of the handle and the socket and for enabling the handle to be positioned at a predetermined position on the socket when the handle and the socket are in contact with and coupled to each other when the handle is mounted in the socket, wherein the predetermined position on the socket is referred to as a correct position.

6. The home appliance according to claim 5, wherein a positioning unit of the dryer is provided at one side of the handle, wherein the positioning unit of the dryer is referred to as a first positioning unit, and

wherein the positioning unit of the stand is provided at one side of the socket to contact the first positioning unit when the handle is positioned at the correct position, wherein the positioning unit of the stand is referred to as a second positioning unit.

7. The home appliance according to claim 6, wherein either one of the first positioning unit and the second positioning unit includes a protruding portion protruding outward, and the other one of the first positioning unit and the second positioning unit includes an insertion portion into which the protruding portion is inserted.

8. The home appliance according to claim 7, wherein the protruding portion includes a protruding rib extending in a direction in which the handle is mounted in the socket, wherein the direction in which the handle is mounted in the socket is referred to as a first direction, and

wherein the insertion portion includes an insertion groove extending in the first direction to insert at least a portion of the protruding rib.

9. The household appliance of claim 7, wherein the protruding portion comprises a protrusion of an elastic material, and

wherein the insertion portion includes:

a vertical guide path extending in a direction in which the handle is mounted in the socket, wherein the direction in which the handle is mounted in the socket is referred to as a first direction, and for applying pressure to the protrusion such that the protrusion is compressed by a predetermined ratio or more, and for guiding a sliding movement of the protrusion in the first direction; and

a first seating groove connected to the vertical guide path and for releasing at least some of the pressure applied to the protrusion by the vertical guide path, and in which the protrusion is seated.

10. The household appliance of claim 9, wherein the insertion portion further comprises:

a horizontal guide path extending from the first seating groove in a rotational direction about the first direction, wherein the rotational direction about the first direction is referred to as a second direction, and for applying pressure to the protrusion such that the protrusion is compressed by a predetermined ratio or more, and for guiding a sliding movement of the protrusion in the second direction; and

a plurality of second seating grooves formed in a portion of the horizontal guide path and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance together with the first seating grooves,

wherein the vertical guide path, the horizontal guide path, the first seating groove and the second seating groove are recessed in a protruding direction of the protrusion, and a degree of the recess of the first seating groove and the second seating groove is greater than a degree of the recess of the vertical guide path and the horizontal guide path.